Angelique Kerber battled to a 7-6, 7-6 win over Elise Mertens in her first match of 2018 in the Hopman Cup. Representing Germany in the tournament against the Belgian Mertens, Kerber secured her country’s first win at the tournament in the new year.
Kerber had started the 2017 season with high expectations as the No.1 player in the world. Poor runs including opening rounds exits at the French Open and the US Open in 2017 contributed to a rankings crash of No.21 this week.
2018 is a chance for the 29 year-old to banish the demons of 2017 and she managed to earn the win in a hotly contested match. Mertens’ started strongly, holding and then breaking for a 2-0 lead. Kerber won the next three games before also relinquishing the break. The German was forced to save a set point at 5-6 before holding and then winning a close tie break 8-6.
Kerber would lead by a break twice early on in the second, but was pegged back each time by Mertens. The Belgian then broke to serve for the set in game eight. However, Mertens could not get to set point as she was broken.
A quick service hold followed for Kerber, who then applied pressure by earning a match point. Mertens held strong to force another tie break.
This one was not to be so closely contested as after trading the first two points, Kerber raced away, winning six points in a row to secure the win.
Kerber’s win hands Germany the first rubber. Belgium will now have to win both the Men’s Singles and the Mixed Doubles if they are to win the tie. Alexander Zverev will face Belgium’s 2017 Nitto ATP Finals and Davis Cup hero David Goffin in the first 2018 meeting of two Top 10 players.
